My rose is not just any rose,
It is very special, one-of-a-kind.
The keeper of the vase on my window sill

The lily that I found,
So beautiful, so delicate, so pure,
So unbelievably uncorrupt,
I couldn't pick it.
My fingers I fear,
Wouldn't fail to wither it.

See, my rose has thorns,
a tough outer layer.
The lily is so soft,
So delicate,
I couldn't risk the chance.
So I offer just one last glance.

I will leave the lily where it grows,
To dodge my trowel, and those of others.
Until it finds the tenderness of real love
to pick it from its lonely plot of soil.
Where it will sit on someone's window sill,
in a vase, thriving in all the spoils.

I do not know how fast time passes by
but all I know, from the very first moment
that I was caught by your loving arms,
I know time will never come between us
to separate our hearts
into two different roads.

I do remember our childhood
when we used to be the best of friends,
we were lying on the grass,
while watching those beautiful stars,
waiting for them to fall for us,
but as we believed in each other’s side
and knew each other better,
I think I was the one
who have fallen in love with you.

After fifty years of marriage
love is always there to remind me
that it is a wonderful gift
to have a chance to live with you
to create memories that I can keep
whenever you would sail oceans apart.

I thought time will not be too rude to us,
but I was only mistaken!
And now, my wishes and prayers are too late
for Him to hear,
but I really want to be young forever,
for even if I will grow old with you,
there will be a day that it is either you
who will be left behind or it is I,
for even if I will grow old with you,
I know time will never be stopped anymore
from separating our hearts
into two different roads.

Glorious, life-giving sun.
Spreading rays spreading down to my spreading fingertip branches outstretched.
Kissing forehead, cheeks.
Gently waking me, washing off sleep. Fading out dreams.
Bringing me back to the place where the nightmares can't reach.

Cloud cover rolls in.
Shivering arctic wind shivering into my shivering limbs curved to fetal position. Ice-burdened branches.
Stinging nose, toes.
Forcing me under the surface through the crack in the skating pond.
Bones rattling like chains holding me in this overcast prison.

What is in you
that makes me
fall in love?

gently spiced dreams invite me-
come in and take a peek
look within, search for yourself
get lost in this fragrant wonderland
explore the cliffs in your mind
off which the waterfall of your thoughts rush down
in mighty, uncontrollable torrents
full of a refreshing energy-positive, powerful
swirling around, connecting to the inner caves
within which lies the buried treasure of your secrets
some, waiting to be excavated and shared
others wanting to be buried deeper
but overall it’s a happy place, come every night
rediscover yourself, every time.

- Vijayalakshmi Harish
   03.10.2012

Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish

I had a dream last night
where I didn't dream at all.

Everything was numb
and I couldn't shut the blinds

So I pretended to stop existing
like everything else around me.

Always

Time started screaming in my face
but my body didn't move.

Nearly

Making pictures with my hands
in the midnight sun's silhouette.

Noticing things that weren't there before,
like the lint that comes alive

and swallows you whole,
leaving you gasping and retching

Now

in the silence that is your mind
like an old playlist on loop.

*Go to sleep now. You have to get up in a few minutes, sweetheart.

They aren't monsters, they're shadows.

So sleep now, darling, and they'll disappear.